Singapore’s AirFish wing-in-ground aircraft set for Q3 2026 launch
February 3, 2026
Finally, the first ekranoplan or wing-in-ground-effect flying ferry may be set to start operations in Singapore. This follows decades of mostly dead-end ground effect vehicle development in the US, the Soviet Union, and elsewhere.
ST Engineering’s AirFish to start operations Q3 2026
According to reporting by The Straits Times, Mr Kevin Chow, head of aerostructures and systems at ST Engineering’s commercial aerospace division, said that the company’s ground effect vehicle (ekranoplan) will be ready for commercial service by Q3 2026.
ST Engineering is set to announce a partnership at the Singapore Airshow with a ferry operator. Chow stated that flight trials are scheduled to take place in Q2 2026 as part of its certification process.
ST Engineering’s website says, “The AirFish, which seats 10 passengers including crew, is on track to achieve maritime classification with the support of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and will be ready for commercial service in 2026.”
The AirFish is a ground effect vehicle (GEV) or wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) craft that combines the attributes of a ship with an aircraft, something like a hovercraft. By skimming over the water, AirFish can gain lift by compressing the air under its wings and fly much faster than a speedboat.
Chow says AirFish will begin operations by taking passengers from Singapore to a nearby destination. It is unclear what destinations it will be used for, but candidates include Batam and Bintan in Indonesia.
The AirFish series
ST Engineering claims the AirFish “redefines” maritime transport, allowing swift coastal travel and logistics. Its designs tend to be smaller and ferry-focused, although it does mention potential military applications.
The AirFish Voyager is designed to carry eight passengers (four in VIP configuration) and two crew at 100 knots, “thrice the speed of existing marine craft.” The craft is 17 metres long and 15 metres wide and has a range of 300 nautical miles. It is designed to carry a payload of up to 1,000 kgs
It will be able operate in up to Sea State 3 or “Slight” sea conditions. Sea State 3 is defined by sea conditions with wave heights ranging from 0.5 to 1.25 meters or 1.5 to 4 feet.
An early customer is Eurasia Mobility Solutions in Turkey, which ordered 10 examples in 2024, with the option for another 10.
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The troubled history of ekranoplan development
Ground effect vehicles or ekranoplans are nothing new. Famously, the Soviet Union extensively experimented with developing them, including as a type of fast attack warship. It was able to bring the Lun-class into service just before its collapse.
Operating these vehicles in ground effect promises incredible benefits, including being able to combine the heavy loads of a ship with the speed of an aircraft. The US has typically focused on developing freighter GEVs to support its enormous logistics operations.
However, there are extremely difficult engineering challenges to overcome, including how to skim over water in rough seas.
At one point, Boeing designed the giant Pelican, while DARPA worked on the Liberty Lifter until it was cancelled in 2025. In 2025, a new Chinese ekranoplan was spotted, seemingly designed to support Chinese operations in the South China Sea.
Featured Image: ST Engineering
